Apparatus for the distillation of oil



June 25, 1935. A. KNUDSEN 2,006,273

APPARATUS FOR THE DISTILLATION OF OIL Filed Sept. 13, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 w b h I R n O q) 3 \f U //7 ventor:

Alfred Knudsen ATTORNEY June 25', 1935. KNUDSEN 2,006,273

APPARATUS FOR THE DISTILLATION OF OIL Filed Sept. 13, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor":

Alfred. Knudsen ATTORNEY June 25, 1935. A. KNUDSEN 2,006,273

I APPARATUS FOR THE DISTILLATION OF OIL Filed Sept. 13, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 In ventor:

Alfred Knudsen ATTORNEY June 25, 1935. A.- KNUDSEN APPARATUS FOR THE DISTILLATION OF OIL 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 lnvenfor:

Alfred. Knudsen %W% Filed Sept. 15, 1935 ATTORNEY June 25, 1935. A. KNUDSEN i 6, I APPARATUS FOR THE DISTILLATION OF OIL I Filed Sept. 15, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 'lIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIII/ Rig. 7

' T V /V r" 4 6 19 /n ventvr: I

Alfred Kpudsen ATTORNEY Patented June 25, 1935 PATENT I OFFICE 2,006,273 APPARATUS FOR THE DISTILLATION or on.

Alfred Knudsen, Astra (Chubut), Argentina Application September 13, 1933, Serial No. 689,199 In Germany September 22, 1932 9 Claims.

In the distillation of crude oil, fuel oil and the like to coke, the oil-containing substances are normally subjected to direct heating in iron containers, so that the volatileoils are vaporized .5 while the residues are deposited in the form of coke on the'bottom of the container. The removal of this coke involves each time an interruption in the working, which is always accom-: panied by considerable loss of time and in general also by a considerable wear of material, due

to the wide temperature differences.

Processes for the distillation of oil-containing substances to coke are also known in which the crude oil is pumped within the distillation chamber by atomizers [into the furnace or retort. In this case, also, it is necessary to stop the plant as soon as the layer of coke has become so thick that it must be removed,

The object of the present invention is to obviate the disadvantages resulting from this interruption in the working in the processes known heretofore for the distillation of oil-containingsubstances to coke, and at the same time to provide the possibility of carrying out the distillation in. a perfectly continuous operation.

According to the invention, the distillation of oil-containing substances is effected in a continuous manner by passing the treated substances in separate containers through the heating zone. This continuous distillation is carried out according to the invention by introducing the containers, filled with the oil-containing substances,

in unbroken sequence, but intermittently, into the furnace which is heated on all sides, closing the furnace by means of sealing members arranged between the containers, and withdrawing the containers from the furnace after distillation is completed, while simultaneously introducing other containers, in order, after removal of the coke residue and refilling with oil, to reintroduce in circuit into the furnace the containers previously withdrawn from the furnace. The filling of the containers with the oil-containing substances may be effected either outside or inside the furnace. If the oil intended for distillation is charged into the containers within the furnace, it is advisable to charge with oil until the containers are filled with coke residues. Thereupon, the injection of oil is interrupted in order to withdraw the containers filled with coke from the distillation chambers and simultaneously to introduce empty containers into the distillation chamber, in which empty containers the oil is then injected as stated in the foregoing.

The apparatus suitable for carrying out the present process comprises a furnace adapted to be heated on all sides, and having its distillation chamber provided with two openings lined with frames through which travels a chain arrange ment of distillation containers with sealing mem- 5 bers arranged between the said containers at an interval corresponding to the distance between the openings of the furnace. The said sealing members are provided with exchangeable resiliently mounted sealing elements of fireproof 10 fabric, for example, asbestos reinforced with metal insertions.

If the filling of the containers with the oilcontaining substances is to take place outside the furnace, a bridge with oil supply for filling the 5 containers is provided in front of the furnace.

If the containers are tobe filled with the oilcontaining substances within the furnace, an atomizer for injecting the oil is provided in the distillation chamber. For hardening the coke 2o residue, there is arranged behind the distillation chamber a steam chamber adapted in magnitude to the members of the chain, and having outlet openings corresponding in size and arrangement to those of the furnace.

Constructions of the new apparatus are shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section and Figure 2 a cross-section of a construction in 30 which the filling of the containers takes place in front of the furnace.-

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section and Figure 4 a cross-section of another construction, in which the filling of the containers takes 5 place within the furnac Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through a sealing member,

Figure 6 a section along the line A--A in Figure 5. I 40 Figure 7 is a section along the line BB in Figure 5,

Figure 8 is a detail of the sealing member, and Figure 9 is a longitudinal section through a distillation container. t 4

In the constructionshown in Figures 1 and 2,

I denotes the distillation chamber of a. furnace l0, through which travels an endless chain arrangement 2 of cast iron containers 3. A sealing member 4 is always provided between every three containers 3. A bridge 6 with oil supply for filling the containers is provided in front of the distillation chamber I. The distillation chamber is adjoined on the other side by a steam chamber 5 for hardening the coke residue.

The distillation chamber I is provided with two opposite rectangular openings 1, which are lined with frames and are so dimensioned that the containers 3 can just pass therethrough. The steam chamber is likewise provided with an outlet opening I of the same size and arrangement as those of the furnace. I

The distillation chamber I is heated externally on all sides peripherally by means of the burners 8. The temperature may be supervised by means of a pyrometer 9. I

The distillation chambe I and the steam chamber 5 afford room for a certain number of containers 3, for example three, while at the same time the openings I of the distillation chamber and the steam chamber are hermetically sealed by three sealing members 4.

In order to carry out the process according to the invention, the furnace III and the distillation chamber l are first raised to the necessary temperature by means of the burners 8. As soon as the temperature is attained, the row of containers 3, which are on the bridge, are filled with the raw product intended for the distillation and are then introduced into the distillation chamber I. The sealing members 4 remain in the openings I, thereby completely sealing the distillation chamber.

The endless chain arrangement of containers 3 is moved forward bymeans of a motor acting upon the pinion I I andthereby upon the toothed wheel I2. The teeth of the said toothed wheel engage tooth recesses provided in the bottom of the containers and of the sealing members.

At the high temperature of the distillation chamber I, the oil in the containers immediately begins to distil first of all on the surface. The distillation process does not extend to the rest of the contents of the containers until after the walls of the containers have become sufficiently hot. There is, therefore, no boiling over and no frothing. Also no overheating of the vapours can take place.

The oil vapours are led through the suction conduit I3 to the columns I4 and to the condensers I5, wherethe vdistillates are recovered in the usual manner. r

In order to obviate losses through any leakages of the distillation chamber, the whole of the distillation plant is maintained under a vacuum of 5 to 10 millimetres of water gauge.

As soon as the volatile substances have been vaporized from the containers 3 within the distillation chamber I, the endless chain 2 is moved forward by means of the mechanism described in the foregoing by an amount such that a further row of containers, which have been filled in the meantime, are moved into the distillation chamber, while at the same time the corresponding sealing members take up a position in the openings 1. The containers'leaving the furnace enter the steam chamber 5 where the coke residue is hardened and cooled by steam. There is, therefore, always a group of containers on the bridge for filling, a second group in the distillation chamber for distillation ofthe oil and a third group in the steam chamber for cooling and hardening the coke. V

The containers 3 leaving the steam chamber 5 carry on their bottom a layer of coke which can be readily detached in a simple manner. When these containers are tipped at the end of the chain, the coke residue is automatically discharged upon a conveyor trough I6 and is pushed along the said trough by the containers themselves to the stacking place.

Preferably the bottom of the containers is divided by several ribs in order to give the desired form to the coke.

In the construction shown in Figures 3 and 4,

v the filling of the containers takes place in the distillation chamber itself. For this purpose, atomizers II are provided in the distillation chamber. The liquid intended for distillation is injected into the containers by means of the said atomizers while the said containers are situated in the hot distillation chamber. The oil feed is continued until the containers are filled with coke residue Injection is then interrupted in order to advance the full containers and to introduce a row of empty containers into the distillation chamber.

The connection between each of the members of the endless chain of containers 3 and the sealing members 4 is effected by means of hinges which, if necessa y, allow of rapid and convenient exchange of any part.

As shown in Figures 5, 6 and '7, the sealing members are composed of a cast iron body I9, which has cylindrical parts 21 on either side and is provided at the bottom with a tooth recess; A plurality of resilient split rings 23, on which rest rigid frames 24, are threaded on the cylindrical parts 21. The bases of the said rigid frames have a circular form, while the outer end has a square form. Sealing elements 25 of fireproof fabric, for example packings of asbestos reinforced with metal insertions are nlaced over the rigid frames 24. The external dimensions of the said sealing elements 25 are somewhat greater than the opening I of the distillation chamber or of the steam chamber. Owing to the resiliency of the resilient rings I, the sealing elements are pressed firmly against the wall of the opening I through the medium of the frames 24, and tightly close the' said opening. Each sealing member 4 comprises a plurality of su'h sealing elements, for example four on each side, that is to say'eight altogether. Partitions 26, which fit tightly on the cylindrical part 21 of the cast iron body, are arranged between the sealing elements.

The sealing elements 25 with the rigid frames and the split rings are threaded from both sides on the sealing members, and are held in place by closure plates I8 or 20, which carry hinge pins and are rigidly connected by screws 2| to the cylindrical part 21 of the cast iron body I9. As soon as a sealing element no longer seals-satisfactorily, the sealing effect of the sealing member may be festored simply by loosening the corresponding closure plate and exchanging the defective sealing element for a new sealing element.

' The distillation containers 3, as shown in Figure 9, are of rectangular shape. They are provided at the bottom with a tooth recess, engaged by the teeth I2' of the supporting toothed wheel.- Advantageously, the distillation containers are divided into two parts by a central partition.

I claim:--

1. In apparatus for the distillation of oil material to coke, a distillation chamber having means for heating it on all sides and provided on opposite sides respectively with two openings having frames lining them, a chain of distillation containers mounted to travel through said openings and the distillation chamber, and resilient sealing members adapted to close the two openings and arranged in the chain betweemthe containers at the same distance apart longitudinally of the chain as the distance between said openings.

2. In apparatus for the distillation of oil ma-' terial to coke, a distillation chamber having means for heating it on all sides and provided on opposite sides respectively with inlet and outlet openings having frames lining them, a steam chamber communicating with the outlet opening of the distillation chamber and provided with an outlet opening of the same size as the outlet opening of the distillation chamber and arranged at the same distance from the outlet opening of the distillation chamber as the distance of the latter opening from the inlet opening of the distillation chamber, anda chain of diztillation containers mounted to travel through said openings and the distillationchamber and resilient sealing members adapted to close said openings and arranged in the chain' between the containers at the same distance apart longitudinally of the chain as the distance between the openings of the distillation chamber.

3. In apparatus for the distillation of oil material to coke, a distillation chamber having means for heating it on all sides and provided on opposite sides respectively with inlet and outlet openings having frames lining them, a steam chamber communicating with the outlet opening of the distillation chamber and provided with an outlet opening of the same size as the outlet opening of the distillation chamber and arranged at the same distance from the outlet opening of the distillation chamber as the distance of the latter opening from the inlet opening of the distillation chamber, a chain of distillation containers mounted to travel through said openings and the distillation chamber and resilient sealing members adapted to close said openings and arranged in the chain between the containers at the same distance apart longitudinally 'of said chain as the distance between the openings of the distillation chamber, and a bridge arranged at the entrance of the inlet opening of the distillation chamber, adapted to support the containers and provided with an oil supply for filling the containers.

4. In apparatus for the distillation of oil material to coke, a distillation chamber having means for heating it on all sides and provided on opposite sides respectively'with inlet and outlet openings having frames lining them, a steam chamber communicating with the outlet opening of the distillation chamber and provided with an outlet opening of the same size as the outlet opening of the distillation chamber and arranged" at the same distance from the outlet opening of the distillation chamber as the distance of the latter opening from the inlet opening of the distillation chamber, a chain of distillation containers mounted to travel through said openings and the distillation chamber and resilient sealing members adapted to close said openings and arranged in the chain between the containers at the same distance apart longitudinally of the chain as the distance between the "openings of the distillation chamber, and atomizers in the distillation chamber for injecting oil into the containers within said distillation chamber.

5. In apparatus for the distillation of oil material to coke, a distillation chamber having means for heating it on all sides and provided on opposite sides respectively with inlet and outlet openings having frames lining them, a steam chamber communicating with theoutlet opening of the distillation chamber and provided with an into the containers outlet'opening of the same size as the outlet opening of the distillation chamber and arranged at the same distance from the outlet opening of the distillation chamber as the distance of the latter opening from the inlet opening of the distillation chamber, an endless chain of distillation containers mounted to travel through said openings and the distillation chamber and resilient sealing members adapted to cloze said openings and arranged in the chain between the containers atthe same distance apart longitudinally of the chain as the distance between the openings of the distillation chamber, and a bridge arranged at the entrance of the inlet opening of the distillation chamber, adapted to support the containers and provided with an oil supply for filling the containers.

6. In apparatus for the distillation of oil material to coke, a distillation chamber having means for heating it on all sides and provided on opposite sides respectively with inlet and outlet openings having frameslining them, a steam chamber communicating with the outlet'opening of the distillation chamber and provided with an outlet opening of the same size as said outlet opening of the distillation chamber and arranged at the same distance from the outlet opening of the distillation chamber as the distance of the latter opening from the inlet opening of the distillation chamber, an endless chain of distillation containers mounted to travel through said openings and the distillation chamber and resilient sealing members adapted to close said openings and arranged in the chain between the containers at the same distance apart longitudinally of the chain as the distance between the p gs of the distillation chamber, and atom izers in the distillation chamber for injecting oil within said distillation chamber.

7. In apparatus for the distillation of oil material to coke, a distillation chamber having means for heating it on all sides and provided on opposite sides respectively with inlet and outlet openings having frames lining them, a steam chamber communicating with the outlet opening of the distillation chamber and provided with an outlet opening of the same size as the outlet opening of the distillation chamber and arranged at the same distance from the outlet opening of the distillation chamber as the distance of the latter chamber from the inlet opening of the distillation chamber, and an endless chain of distillation containers mounted to travel through said openings and the distillation chamber and resilient sealing members adapted to close said openings and arranged in the chain between the containers at the same distance apart longitudi nally of the chain as the distance between the openings of the distillation chamber, said seal ing members embodying exchangeable, resiliently mounted sealing elements of fire proof fabric.

8. In an apparatus for the distillation of oil material to coke, a distillation chamber having means for heating it on all sides and provided on opposite sides respectively with inlet and outlet openings having frames lining them, a steam chamber communicating with the outlet opening of the distillation chamber and provided with an outlet opening of the same size as the outlet opening of the distillation chamber and arranged at the same distance from the outlet opening of the distillation chamber as the distance of the I lation containers mounted to travel through said openings and the: distillation chamber and. resilient sealing members adapted to close said openings and arranged in the chain'between the containers at the same distance apart longitudinally of the chain as the distance between the openings of the distillation chamber, said sealing members embodying exchangeable metal-reinforced asbestos sealing elements, rigid frames over which said elements are wound, resilient split rings on which said frames rest, and individual partitions separating said elements.

9. In apparatus for the distillation of oil material to coke, a distillation chamber having means for heating it on all sides and provided on opposite sides respectively with inlet and outlet openings having frames lining them, a steam chamber communicating with the outlet opening of the distillation chamber and provided with an outlet opening of the same size as said outlet opening of the distillation ch -.mber and arranged at the same distance from #1 ie outlet opening of the distillation chamber as the distance of the latter opening from the inlet opening of the distillation chamber, and an endless chain of distillation containers mounted to travel through said openings and the distillation chamber and resilient sealing members adapted to close said openings and arranged in the chain between the containers at the same distance apart longitudinally of the chain as the distance between the openings of the distillation chamber, said sealing members embodying exchangeable metal-reinforced asbestos sealing elements, rigid frames over which said elements are wound, resilient split rings on which said frames rest, and individual partitions separating said elements from one another, said sealing members having portions on opposite ends thereof on which the sealing elements are threaded, and closure plates for holding the sealing elements in place on the sealing members.

c ALFRED KNUDSEN. 

